On October 10, 2014 Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Georgian National Platform signed Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Centre ôCITOö in support of Ukrainian refugees affected by the armed conflict.

In the framework of the Memorandum Georgian National Platform provided the humanitarian aid to the Medical Center, "Cito" for Ukrainian refugees temporarily residing in Georgia.

The memorandum was signed by the Chairman of Georgian National Platform Lasha Tughushi, Director of the Medical Center "Cito", Natia Shavdia and Head of Department for the Management and Coordination of Emergency of the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Zurab Utiashvili. The event was attended by the representatives of Georgian National Platform and the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia.

The Georgian National Platform expresses its sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine and the Medical Center "Cito" for their close cooperation and assistance.

The Establishment of EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform

The EU-Ukraine Civil Society Platform (CSP) is an instrument of bilateral cooperation between the EU and civil society in Ukraine envisaged by the countryĺs Association Agreement with the EU (Articles 469-470). The CSP is a Forum which consists of members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the one hand, and representatives of Ukrainian civil society on the other and is designed to ensure dialogue and the exchange of ideas. The Civil Society Platformĺs design is not determined by the Association Agreement, rather it is expected that the CSP will establish its own rules of procedure.

The CSP will be created to facilitate and support the implementation of the Association Agreement (AA) by monitoring, analysing and providing consultation to bilateral intergovernmental (the Association Council) and inter-parliamentary (Parliamentary Association Committee) bodies.

The first stage in the creation of the CSP has been initiated by civil society organisations which support the European integration of Ukraine and specialise in topics covered by the AA. These organisations have established an initiative group which has held negotiations between the EU and the EESC and is now establishing a framework for the Ukrainian CSP.

The West is Not Prepared for the Long Haul over Ukraine

The European Union and NATO are involved in a competition with Russia that they could lose. That competition comprises three main strands, each of which reveals the Westĺs lack of readiness for a long, drawn-out struggle with Moscow. First, there is a conflict over the sovereignty of Ukraine, which has been compromised by Russian military support for rebels in the east of the country and by the Kremlinĺs annexation of Crimea. Second, Russia and the West are engaged in a communications war that the EU is unlikely to win unless there is a sea change in confronting Russian President Vladimir Putinĺs well-oiled machinery of propaganda. And third, the security of the Baltic states is at stake. There, EU and NATO leaders are still unprepared to deal with any trouble that Russia could engineer.

Civil Society Invited to Contribute to ENP Progress Reports

The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the Commission are inviting civil society organisations in Eastern Partnership countries to contribute to reports assessing the progress achieved by their respective governments in the implementation, during 2014, of reform commitments within the framework of European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

The reports, intended to track the progress achieved towards the implementation of the Action Plans or Association Agendas, will cover developments in the year 2014 and will be published in the spring of 2015.

The prime motivation behind including civil society organisation is to ensure a greater level of transparency and objectivity in the content of these reports.

The reports are published on a regular basis and cover all countries from the European Unionĺs Eastern and Southern neighbourhoods. The previous reports, covering developments in 2013, were published in March 2014. The deadline for contributions is 15 October 2014.

New EU support for Civil Society in Ukraine

A new programme to support civil society in Ukraine has been agreed by Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy, Őtefan FŘle, and Prime Minister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on Saturday 13 September, in a bid to improve oversight of Ukraineĺs reform process.á

The program, which includes Ç10 million in funds, intends to enhance the role of civil society in promoting and monitoring democratic reforms and inclusive socio-economic development in Ukraine.

Civil society organizations will receive direct funding to build up their capacity to monitor the implementation of reforms stipulated by Ukraineĺs state-building contract with the European Union, which includes Ç355 million in support funds. The reforms include the fight against corruption, constitutional reform and reform of the judiciary.

ôCivil society plays a key role in the reform process. This financing agreement will support it in monitoring the reforms and providing the feedback on them to the Government. The engagement of civil society is essential if national reforms are to succeed.ö ásaid Commissioner FŘle at the signing of the agreement.